Utility cart with lock box

ABSTRACT

A utility cart with lock box which includes a fixed housing portion mounted to the top of a cart storage unit, and a rotating housing portion rotatably mounted to the fixed housing portion. The fixed housing portion includes spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuate back wall, and an open front. The rotating housing portion includes spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuate front wall, and an open back. The rotating housing portion is dimensioned such that it can be rotated rearwardly up and over the fixed housing to provide access to items stored in the fixed housing portion, or under the closed rotating housing portion. Alternatively the rotating housing can be rotated forwardly and downwardly to enclose all items in the lock box. The items located in the lock box are visible whether the box is opened or closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of utility carts with lockboxes. Such carts are often used as cleaning carts. They typicallyinclude a wheeled base with a storage unit mounted thereon, a handle formoving the cart and for hanging items thereon, such as waste bags, and alock box mounted on top of the storage unit. These lock boxes typicallyhave doors which can be locked closed, flip up tops which can be lockedclosed, and in one case a tambour door.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The utility cart of the present invention includes a lock box comprisinga fixed housing portion mounted to the top of the cart storage unit, anda rotating housing portion rotatably mounted to the fixed housingportion. The fixed housing portion includes spaced sidewalls joined to aclear see through an arcuate back wall, and an open front. The rotatinghousing portion includes spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see througharcuate front wall, and an open back. The rotating housing portion isdimensioned such that it can be rotated rearwardly up and over the fixedhousing to provide access to items stored in the fixed housing portion,or under the closed rotating housing portion. Alternatively the rotatinghousing can be rotated forwardly and downwardly to enclose all items inthe lock box. The items located in the lock box are visible whether thebox is opened or closed.

These and other features of the invention will be more fully understoodand appreciated by reference to the description of the preferredembodiments and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment lock box utilitycart;

FIG. 2 is a close up front perspective view of the closed lock boxmounted on the top tray of the utility cart;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the assembled fixed and rotating housingportions only in closed condition;

FIG. 4 is a close up front perspective view of the open lock box mountedon the top tray of the utility cart, also showing various cleaningsupplies located on the top tray of the cart;

FIG. 5 is a close up rear perspective view of the lock box mounted onthe top tray of the utility cart; and

FIG. 6 is a close up of the locking mechanism of the lock box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the preferred embodiment, utility cart 1 has a base platform 10 withwheels 11, a storage unit 20 and a lock box 30 mounted atop storage unit20 (FIG. 1). Lock box 30 includes a fixed housing portion 40 which ismounted to the top 21 of the cart storage unit 20, and a rotatinghousing portion 50 rotatably mounted to fixed housing portion 40 at axlepins 55 (FIGS. 1-3). The fixed housing portion includes spaced sidewalls41 joined to a clear see through arcuate back wall 42, and an open front(FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). The rotating housing portion 50 includes spacedsidewalls 51 joined to a clear see through arcuate front wall 52, and anopen back. Sidewalls 41 and 52 are preferably made of metal or rigidplastic, and arcuate back wall 42 and arcuate front wall 52 arepreferably made of clear plastic.

Both fixed housing 40 back wall 42 and rotating housing 50 front wall 52define about a quarter of a cylinder, except for the lower front portion52a of front wall 52, and the lower rear portion 42a of back wall 42(FIG. 3). Front wall portion 52a and back wall portion 42a extendgenerally straight down from their junction with the arcuate portions offront and rear walls 52 and 42 respectively.

The axel pins 55 pass through over lapping portions of sidewalls 51 and41 near their rear and front edges respectively. Axel pins 55 are alsolocated at approximately the center of the cylinder portions defined byarcuate front wall 52 and arcuate back wall 42, respectively.

Rotating housing portion 50 is dimensioned just slightly larger suchthat it can be rotated rearwardly up and over the fixed housing 40 toopen the front of fixed housing 40 and provide access to items locatedin the fixed housing portion (FIG. 4). This also provides access toitems located in forwardly of fixed housing 40, which are enclosed underrotating housing portion when it is in its closed position. Rotatinghousing portion 50 can be rotated forwardly and downwardly (FIGS. 1 and2) to close the open front of fixed housing 40, and to cover those itemslocated outside of and forwardly of fixed housing 40. Thus all items inthe lock box are thereby enclosed, and lock box 30 can be locked closedusing key lock 60 (FIG. 6). The items located in the lock box arevisible whether the box is opened or closed.

Platform 10 preferably extends forwardly of storage unit 20, such that acleaning bucket and sundry other items can be carried thereon. Storageunit 20 as shown is a cabinet with a closeable door, a handle 22projecting rearwardly therefrom and an auxiliary platform 24 locatedatop handle 22. Hanger brackets 23 are positioned on cabinet 20.

The top 21 of cabinet 20 comprises a tray, in that it includes anupwardly extending perimeter sidewall 21a projecting a short distanceabove top 21. Top 21 is sometimes referred to herein as tray 21.Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that sidewalls 41 of fixed housing40 extend downwardly further than the sidewalls 51 of rotating housing50, to define a mounting portion 41a, shown shaded in FIG. 3. Similarly,the generally straight back wall portion 42a of fixed housing 40 extendsstraight downwardly from the arcuate portion of back wall 42, furtherthan the front wall 52 of rotating housing 50 extends downwardly, toprovide a back wall mounting portion 42b. These lower mounting portions41a and 42b fit down inside the perimeter tray sidewall 21a and aresecured thereto, to hold fixed housing portion in place overapproximately half of top 21. A notch 41c at the rear lower edge of eachsidewall 41 prevents that portion of sidewall 41 from hitting the rearperimeter wall 21a of tray 20 and interfering with the insertion of rearwall mounting portion 41b into tray 20 adjacent the rear portion ofperimeter wall 21a.

Rotating housing portion 50 is approximately the same shape as fixedhousing portion 40, but is dimensioned just slightly larger than fixedhousing 40 from sidewall to sidewall, and in the radius of its arcuatefront wall, such that it can be rotated up and over fixed housing 40 asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or can be rotated forwardly and downwardly intoits closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the bottom edges ofsidewalls 51 and front wall 52 resting on top of tray sidewall 21a. Analignment flange 56 is secured to the inside of each rotating housingsidewall 51, and extends a short distance below the bottom edge ofsidewall 51 (FIG. 4). As rotating housing 50 is lowered into its closedposition, alignment flanges 56 pass down to the inside of, and closelyadjacent to their adjacent portion of tray perimeter sidewall 21a.Alignment flanges 56 help align the sides 51 of rotating housing 50relative to the top edge of perimeter wall 21a, and prevent rotaryhousing from wracking or shifting sideways relative to perimeter wall21a.

A handle flange 53 of “L” shaped cross section is secured to and extendsacross the width of rotating housing 50 at the bottom edge thereof (FIG.2). A similar handle flange 54 is secured to rotating housing 50 at thetop edge thereof (FIG. 5). Handle 53 and 54 facilitate rotation ofhousing 50 between its opened and closed positions. A stop 45 projectsfrom the back of fixed housing 40 to limit the rotation of housing 50 toits open position.

Lock 60 is located near the bottom edge of front wall 51 of rotatinghousing 50. Lock 60 includes a key lock locking cylinder 61 with adepending lock arm 62 having a notch 63 in the lower extremity thereof.When lock 60 is rotated to its lock position, notch 63 closes over adetent pin 25 which projects inwardly from front perimeter sidewall 21a.In this manner, rotating housing 50 can be locked in its closedposition.

In use, various containers of cleaning products or other items can beplaced in the top tray 21 atop storage container 20 (FIG. 4). Lock box30 is opened by unlocking and rotating housing portion 50 to its openposition, making the items in lock box 30 accessible for use. A cleaningbucket and other items can be placed on the forward portion of platform10 and a refuse bag 2 hung from handle 22. Items can be removed fromtray 21, used, temporarily located on handle platform 24, and ultimatelylocated back on tray 21. After use, lock box 30 can be rotated closedand locked shut by lock 60, thereby denying access to items located ontray 21.

Of course, it is understood that the forgoing is a description ofpreferred embodiments, and that various changes can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A utility cart comprising: a wheeled base;a storage unit located on and projecting upwardly from said wheeled baseto a top surface having at least two upwardly projecting spaced topsidewalls projecting upwardly a short distance from said top surface; alock box mounted on said top surface, said lock box including: a firsthousing portion mounted on said top surface of said storage unit, and asecond housing portion rotatably mounted to said first housing portion;said first housing portion including spaced sidewalls joined to a clearsee through an arcuate back wall having a first radius, and an openfront; said spaced sidewalls of said first housing being seated betweenand mounted to said spaced top sidewalls; said second housing portionincluding spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuate frontwall having a second radius, and an open back; said second housingportion being approximately the same shape as said first housingportion, but being dimensioned just slightly larger than said firsthousing portion from sidewall to sidewall, and in said radius of itsarcuate front wall, such that said second housing portion is configuredto be rotated rearwardly up and over said first housing portion toprovide access to items stored in or in front of said first housingportion, and said second housing portion being configured to be rotatedforwardly and downwardly to enclose all items in said lock box, with anyitems located in said lock box being visible whether said lock box isopened or closed.
 2. The utility cart of claim 1 in which said storageunit also includes a top back wall projecting upwardly a short distancefrom said top surface; said back wall of said first housing portion ofsaid lock box extending down inside said top back wall of said storageunit.
 3. The utility cart of claim 2 wherein each said sidewall of saidfirst housing portion including a lower edge which includes a notchtherein adjacent said top back wall which projects upwardly from saidtop surface, which prevents that portion of each said sidewall of saidfirst housing portion from hitting said top back wall and interferingwith said back wall of said first housing portion of said lock boxextending down inside said top back wall of said storage unit.
 4. Theutility cart of claim 2 in which: said second housing portion isrotatably mounted to said first housing portion by axle pins; said backwall of said first housing portion of said lock box and said front wallof said second housing portion of said lock box each define about aquarter of a cylinder, said arcuate front wall being joined to a lowerfront wall, and said arcuate back wall being joined to a lower rearwall, and said lower front wall and said lower back wall each extendgenerally straight down from their junction with said arcuate front andrear walls respectively; said sidewalls of said first housing portionhaving front edge portions and said sidewalls of said second housinghaving rear edge sidewall portions, said front edge portions of saidfirst housing portion and said rear edge portions of said second housingportion overlapping; said axel pins pass through said over lapping frontedge portions and rear edge portions of said first and sidewalls of saidsecond housing; and said axel pins are also located at approximately theaxis of said quarter cylinders defined by said arcuate front wall andsaid arcuate back wall, respectively.
 5. The utility cart of claim 4 inwhich: a handle flange of “L” shaped cross section is secured to andextends across the width of said lower front wall of second housingportion.
 6. The utility cart of claim 5 in which: said arcuate frontwall of second housing portion includes a top edge, and a second handleflange of “L” shaped cross section is secured to said arcuate front wallof said second housing portion at said top edge thereof.
 7. The utilitycart of claim 6 in which: a stop projects from said back wall of saidfirst housing portion to limit the rearward rotation of said secondhousing portion to its open position.
 8. The utility cart of claim 7 inwhich: a lock is located on said lower front wall of said second housingportion; said lock includes a key lock locking cylinder with a dependinglock arm having a notch in a lower extremity thereof; said storage unitincluding a top front wall projecting upwardly a short distance fromsaid top surface, said top front wall including a detent projectingtherefrom adjacent said lock when said second housing portion is in itsclosed position; said lock being rotatable to engage said notch withsaid detent to lock said second housing portion in its closed position.9. A utility cart comprising: a wheeled base; a storage unit located onand projecting upwardly from said wheeled base to a top surface; a lockbox mounted on said top surface, said lock box including: a firsthousing portion mounted on said top surface of said storage unit, and asecond housing portion rotatably mounted to said first housing portion;said first housing portion including spaced sidewalls joined to a clearsee through an arcuate back wall, and an open front; said second housingportion including spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuatefront wall, and an open back; said second housing portion beingdimensioned such that said second housing portion is configured to berotated rearwardly up and over said first housing portion to provideaccess to items stored in or in front of said first housing portion, andis configured to be rotated forwardly and downwardly to enclose allitems in said lock box, with any items located in said lock box beingvisible whether said lock box is opened or closed; said second housingportion is rotatably mounted to said first housing portion by axle pins;said back wall of said first housing portion of said lock box and saidfront wall of said second housing portion of said lock box each defineabout a quarter of a cylinder, said arcuate front wall being joined to alower front wall, and said arcuate back wall being joined to a lowerrear wall, and said lower front wall and said lower back wall eachextend generally straight down from their junction with said arcuatefront and rear walls respectively; said sidewalls of said first housingportion having front edge portions and said sidewalls of said secondhousing having rear edge sidewall portions, said front edge portions ofsaid first housing portion and said rear edge portions of said secondhousing portion overlapping; said axel pins pass through said overlapping front edge portions and rear edge portions of said firstsidewalls of said second housing; and said axel pins are also located atapproximately the axis of said quarter cylinders defined by said arcuatefront wall and said arcuate back wall, respectively.
 10. The utilitycart of claim 9 in which: a handle flange of “L” shaped cross section issecured to and extends across the width of said lower front wall ofsecond housing portion.
 11. The utility cart of claim 10 in which: saidarcuate front wall of second housing portion includes a top edge, and asecond handle flange of “L” shaped cross section is secured to saidarcuate front wall of said second housing at said top edge thereof. 12.The utility cart of claim 11 in which: a stop projects from said backwall of said first housing portion to limit the rearward rotation ofsaid second housing portion to its open position.
 13. The utility cartof claim 12 in which: a lock is located on said lower front wall of saidsecond housing portion; said lock includes a key lock locking cylinderwith a depending lock arm having a notch in a lower extremity thereof;said storage unit including a top front wall projecting upwardly a shortdistance from said top surface, said top front wall including a detentprojecting therefrom adjacent said lock when said second housing portionis in its closed position; said lock being rotatable to engage saidnotch with said detent to lock said second housing portion in its closedposition.
 14. The utility cart of claim 9 in which: a stop projects fromsaid back wall of said first housing to limit the rearward rotation ofsaid second housing portion to its open position.
 15. The utility cartof claim 9 in which: a lock is located on said lower front wall of saidsecond housing portion; said lock includes a key lock locking cylinderwith a depending lock arm having a notch in a lower extremity thereof;said storage unit including a top front wall projecting upwardly a shortdistance from said top surface, said top front wall including a detentprojecting therefrom adjacent said lock when said second housing portionis in its closed position; said lock being rotatable to engage saidnotch with said detent to lock said second housing portion in its closedposition.
 16. A utility cart comprising: a wheeled base; a storage unitlocated on and projecting upwardly from said wheeled base to a topsurface; a lock box mounted on said top surface, said lock boxincluding: a first housing portion mounted on said top surface of saidstorage unit, and a second housing portion rotatably mounted to saidfirst housing portion; said first housing portion including spacedsidewalls joined to a clear see through an arcuate back wall, and anopen front; said second housing portion including spaced sidewallsjoined to a clear see through arcuate front wall, and an open back; saidsecond housing portion being dimensioned such that said second housingportion is configured to be rotated rearwardly up and over said firsthousing portion to provide access to items stored in or in front of saidfirst housing portion, and is configured to be rotated forwardly anddownwardly to enclose all items in said lock box, with any items locatedin said lock box being visible whether said lock box is opened orclosed; said front wall of said second housing portion of said lock boxhaving a bottom edge; a lock being located near said bottom edge of saidfront wall of said second housing portion; said lock includes a key locklocking cylinder with a depending lock arm having a notch in a lowerextremity thereof; said storage unit including a top front wallprojecting upwardly a short distance from said top surface, said topfront wall including a detent projecting therefrom adjacent said lockwhen said second housing portion is in its closed position; said lockbeing rotatable to engage said notch with said detent to lock saidsecond housing portion in its closed position.
 17. A utility cartcomprising: a wheeled base; a storage unit located on and projectingupwardly from said wheeled base to a top surface having at least twoupwardly projecting spaced top sidewalls projecting upwardly a shortdistance from said top surface; a lock box mounted on said top surface,said lock box including: a first housing portion mounted on said topsurface of said storage unit, and a second housing portion rotatablymounted to said first housing portion; said first housing portionincluding spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through an arcuate backwall, and an open front; said second housing portion including spacedsidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuate front wall, and an openback; said second housing portion being dimensioned such that saidsecond housing portion is configured to be rotated rearwardly up andover said first housing portion to provide access to items stored in orin front of said first housing portion, and is configured to be rotatedforwardly and downwardly to enclose all items in said lock box, with anyitems located in said lock box being visible whether said lock box isopened or closed; each said second housing sidewall including an insidefacing its said opposite sidewall, and also having a bottom edge; and analignment flange extending from said inside of each said second housingsidewall downwardly a short distance below said bottom edge of saidsidewall, such that as said second housing is lowered into its closedposition, said alignment flanges pass closely adjacent to one of saidtop sidewalls, to help align said sidewalls of said second housing andprevent said second housing portion from wracking or shifting from sideto side relative to said top sidewalls.
 18. The utility cart of claim 1in which said arcuate back wall of said first housing comprises a clearsee through arcuate back wall.
 19. The utility cart of claim 9 in whichsaid arcuate back wall of said first housing comprises a clear seethrough arcuate back wall.
 20. The utility cart of claim 16 in whichsaid arcuate back wall of said first housing comprises a clear seethrough arcuate back wall.
 21. The utility cart of claim 17 in whichsaid arcuate back wall of said first housing comprises a clear seethrough arcuate back wall.